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POINT SPREADS

Money Line

Team

Over/Under

Spread

Score

-130

New EnglandPatriots

-2

+110

Los Angeles
Rams

57½

Last Updated: 1/21/2019 10:05:11 AM

GAME REPORT

Only Good Reason

by Dennis Ranahan

The four highest scoring teams in the National Football League square off beginning at high noon Pacific Time, when the Saints host the Los Angeles Rams in New Orleans. A little more than three and one-half hours later, the nightcap pits New England at Arrowhead Stadium to meet the Chiefs.

These four teams combine for the most points ever scored by teams meeting in the AFC and NFC Championship games. Their offenses are, one, two, three and four in total points scored over the course of the regular season. The league leading Chiefs, behind sensational quarterback Patrick Mahomes, scored the third most regular season points in NFL history this season, 565, and the Rams 527 points ranks ninth all-time.

There are only 20 teams in NFL history that have scored as many as 500 points in a season, and three of them occurred in 2018 with the Saints joining the Rams and Chiefs with more than 500 points this season. It is no wonder, with all this scoring, that the defenses allowed more points combined than any quartet of squads that have advanced to the AFC and NFC title games.

With all this offensive power, the defenses are much more likely to allow points. Good teams that routinely score more than 30 points in a game, can dominate even while allowing 17 or more. But, a good squad based on defense, will control a contest and grind out 14-10 and 17-13 type wins. Good defensive teams will win while limiting points on both sides.

The Kansas CIty Chiefs allowed 421 points this season, a figure that ranks them 24th in the 32 team league. The best defense by this measurement is New England’s, they gave up 364 points this season, a figure that is seventh best in the league. The Rams and Saints fall between Kansas City and New England in points allowed, with the Saints ranking 14th in the League and the Rams, 20th.